Oil Leak - 327 Small Journal

[jackbn]

I'm having a heck of a time with an Oil leak on the little 327. It's in the back of the engine and it looks like it's coming out of the head gasket. I just can't believe it would come from there. There's a little indentation on the block about an inch of the way down from the where intake/head meets and the indentation almost looks like there is set screw or a rod pressed in it. The head covers about 1/2 of this and that is exactly where the oil looks like it's coming from. Is it possible that the could be a leak there like it isn't sealed properly ? :cry:

[topsportsman1]

That is very possible,I've seen leaks there in the plug,it wasn't properly sealed or tightened

[jackbn]

Ok, I'm not the only one then. I have to ask you, what the heck does this rod or set screw plug ? I swear it looks like the oil leaking is pressurized (not just seeping out).

[topsportsman1]

Thats the oil passage,when GM machines the block they plug it after the passage has been drilled

[jackbn]

Have you ever had that sick feeling where you new you were right but you just didn't want to admit it, I have that feeling right now. I just got this little hi-revver together and in the Camaro about 2 weeks ago and all i've done is work on this oil leak. I'm going to end up pulling the engine back out and fixing it right. I'd rather do it right and get it done. Hey thanks for your help, I sort of figured that's probably where the oil was leaking from. Thanks again.

[zipper06]

Like Tom says, it's where GM drills thru to the cam bore to bring oil to the lifters and then threds a pipe plug in the head surface. A lot of machine shops pull these plugs when they vat the blk and fail to either reinstall them or don't use sealer or teflon tape when they reinstall them, and it's impossible to fix the leak without removing the head.

Zip.